It has been a career of ups and downs for Daniel Suárez. From winning the Xfinity Series championship in 2016 to having stints at Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing that resulted in no wins. After a season of racing for backmarker teams, Suárez went to the newly-formed Trackhouse Racing and reset his career with owners Justin Marks and Pitbull.
That move has paid off as Suárez took the checkered flag at Sonoma to collect his first career NASCAR Cup Series win. It’s a massive moment for the Mexican born driver as Suárez becomes the first Mexican and the fifth driver born outside the United States to win a race in NASCAR’s top series (Mario Andretti-Italy, Earl Ross-Canada, Juan Pablo Montoya-Colombia, Marcos Ambrose-Australia).
Suárez celebrated by modeling his teammate Ross Chastain. Chastain breaks a watermelon after he wins because he’s a watermelon farmer and Suárez came up with the idea to break a taco piñata after taking the win.
The win makes Suárez the 12th different winner this season and with 10 races still to go until the Cup Playoffs, there might be more winners than there are playoff spots for the first time ever. Drivers like Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick, guys who you would think would have won by now, are still winless. Meanwhile, guys like Tyler Reddick, and Erik Jones keep knocking on the door to get a win.
Daniel Suárez might have won and he deserves to celebrate, but he better hope there aren’t too many new faces in Victory Lane the next 10 races. Either that or go and get a second win.
[Photo: @NASCARONFOX]
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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